Flydubai Postpones Israel Flights Again Amid Security Clearance Delays
Translated & summarized from NEWSru Israel by baba
Flydubai has postponed its return to Israel until November 30 due to unresolved security clearance issues and ongoing negotiations. The airline has not yet agreed to Israel's demand for pilot information 48 hours before flights. Other airlines like Israir, Arkia, El Al, and Emirates have also adjusted or suspended flights to Dubai, with Abu Dhabi becoming the main alternative, served by Etihad.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Flydubai postponed its return to Israel until November 30 due to security clearance delays.
- Negotiations between Flydubai and Israeli authorities remain frozen since before the elections.
- Israel requires airlines to report pilots 48 hours before departure, a rule Flydubai has not accepted.
- Israeli airlines Israir and Arkia suspended Dubai bookings, while El Al delayed sales until December 15.
- Emirates stopped selling connecting flights to Tel Aviv, making Abu Dhabi the main alternative.
- Etihad will increase its seat capacity to Abu Dhabi by approximately 11% starting November 9.
Flydubai has once again postponed the resumption of its flights to Israel, now targeting November 30. Tickets for the Tel Aviv-Dubai route are not yet available for purchase on the airline's website. The necessary security clearances for the flights to recommence have not been obtained, and negotiations between the parties, which were frozen before the elections, have not resumed. Consequently, the new date may not be final.
Israel has mandated that airlines report their pilots 48 hours before departure, a requirement Flydubai has not yet agreed to with the Israeli side. Israeli airlines Israir and Arkia have suspended bookings for flights to Dubai pending approvals, while El Al has delayed ticket sales for this route until December 15. Additionally, Emirates has stopped selling connecting flights to Tel Aviv.
Abu Dhabi remains the primary alternative. Etihad operates six daily flights to the city and will upgrade one of its daily flights starting November 9 from an Airbus A321 with 188 seats to a Boeing 787 with 316 seats, increasing its daily seat capacity from Israel by approximately 11% to 1,256. For context, Flydubai's ten daily flights previously offered around 1,700 seats per day.
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